How to Insulate Old Windows & Wood Trim Around the Windows
- 1). Set up a ladder at the outside of the window to inspect it for damage. Reattach any loose trim using nails or screws.
- 2). Caulk around all the cracks in the window casing inside and outside of the house to stop the drafts and the heated or cooled air from escaping from inside your house.
- 3). Remove the sash weights, if your windows have these. Old-fashioned windows use a pulley system with rope and weights to raise and lower the windows. Replace them with spring tension mounts, which allow you to cover up the holes in the window sashing. Apply window insulation over the holes where the sash weights and ropes were to give added protection from the elements. Cut the pieces of window insulation to the correct size. Remove the sticky backing and press into the window sashing (the 1-to-2-inch groove in the window frame between the actual window and the storm window) pressing firmly to help it adhere and cover the holes.
- 4). Close the window and check for looseness where the window and the sashing meet. Apply some of the window insulation to the bottom of the window sashing if the window does not fit completely to the sash.
- 5). Add storm windows to the outside of your home, which gives your home an extra layer of protection against the elements. Purchase high quality storm windows and install them according to the manufacturer's directions. Fill in any gaps around the new storm windows, as there is a tendency to be a few with older homes and windows, with caulk to further insulate the old windows.
- 6). Make draft stoppers for each window. Sew a tube of fabric with a 5-inch tail of fabric on the long side. Fill the tube with rice or beans and sew it shut. Raise the window and place the tail inside the window casing. Close the window with the rice-filled tube sitting on the inside sash, blocking any drafts.
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